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Celebration of Writing and Writers

SOKA UNIVERSITY PRESENTS A "CELEBRATION OF WRITING AND WRITERS" FEBRUARY 13-16

An exploration of screenwriting, the borderline between non-fiction and fiction and a series of special poetry readings highlight Soka University, Aliso Viejo's first "Celebration of Writing and Writers" on February 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2002. Admission is free and seating will be first come, first served. No tickets are required.

The celebration will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 13th, when SUA presents Ed Dilorenzo discussing his career in screenwriting from 4 to 6 p.m. in Pauling Classroom Theatre. Dilorenzo has written over 20 successful screenplays, including Wild Wild West and Miami Vice. He teaches at USC's Film graduate school and has previously taught at NYU, Boston University, Boston College, Chapman College, Columbia, Brown and UCLA extension.

At 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13th, there will be a public lecture in Pauling Classroom Theatre by Joe McGinniss entitled: "Fiction and Non-fiction: Life on the Borderline." McGinnis is the author of The Selling of the President, The Dream Team, Heroes, Going to Extremes, Fatal Vision, Blind Faith, Cruel Doubt and The Last Brother.

Soka University presents a special Valentine gift to the community on Thursday, February 14th with poetry readings at 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall Meeting Room by Suzanne Lummis, author of In Danger, Idiosyncrasies and Falling Short of Heaven. Lummis's poetry has appeared in Ploughshares, Poetry International, Solo and The Temple. She directs the Los Angeles Poetry Festival.

On Friday, February 15th, Soka University proudly presents Wanda Coleman, whose Bathwater Wine won the 1999 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize. Coleman is also the author of Native in a Strange Lane: Trials & Tremors, Hand Dance, African Sleeping Sickness, A War of Eyes & Other Stories, Heavy Daughter Blues: Poems & Stories, Imagoes, and Mercurochrome: New Poems. She has also written Mambo Hips & Make Believe: A Novel. Coleman has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation for her poetry.

Soka University's Celebration of Writing and Writers will conclude on Saturday, February 16th with a poetry reading by Laurel Ann Bogen, author of ten books of poetry and short fiction, including Fission, The Last Girl in the Land of the Butterflies; The Burning; Do Iguanas Dance Under the Moonlight? and Rag Tag We Kiss. In 2002, Red Hen Press will publish her new collection of poetry, Washing a Language. "Poetry works on a deep and subliminal level, " she says. "When it's good, poetry can offer us insight into ourselves and the world around us...so we don't feel alone...that we're not in this soup by ourselves."

Soka University is located off of Wood Canyon Drive one mile south of Pacific Park Drive in Aliso Viejo. A map and directions can be found on our Directions page. Parking is free.

Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo is a private, non-profit, four-year liberal arts college located adjacent to the City of Laguna Beach in South Orange County. SUA, AV opened to its first 120 first year students from 18 countries and 18 states on August 24, 2001. The campus has a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 16. All students study a foreign language and do an international internship in that language during a semester of their junior year. Eastern and Western perspectives are taught across the curriculum. SUA, AV offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts, with concentrations in Humanities, International Studies and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Founded on the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life, SUA offers a non-sectarian curriculum and is open to students of all nationalities and beliefs. See www.soka.edu for additional information.